Heating apparatus



June 4, 1929- R. ROCHESTER, JR 1,715,512

HEATING APPARATUS Filed June 24, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 4, 1929. R. ROCHESTER, JR Y 1,715,512

HEATING APPARATUS Filed June 24, 1926 4 Sheets-Shee'l'l 2 g CII if y? LE" INVENTOR. W1 TNESSES fic/177107267 occfrfr.

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June 4, 1929. R. ROCHESTER JR HEATING APPARATUS Filed June 24, 1926 4 sheets-sheet 5 WI TNESSES MQ, L? f3 BY @WW A TTORNE YS.

June 4, 1929.

R. ROCHESTER, JR 1,715,512

HEATING APPARATUS Filed June 24, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A TTORNE YS.

raantea June 4, 1929.

UNITED :STATES lrrrlEN'r `ori-*10.15.

:RICHMOND ROCHESTER, JR., F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATIC ELEC- TRIC BOILER CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

HEATING APPARATS,

Application meaA :une 24, 192e. serial No. 118,259.

My invention relates to heating apparatus and'has among its other objectsthe production of apparatus of the kind described, which is compact, convenient, reliable, du-

rable, eiiicient and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable. t A

' A particular object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus of the kind dey scribed wherein water is heated by means 10 comprising electrodes immersed therein.

' Another particular object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus of the kind described which will be substantial,- `ly automatic in its operation.

Still another particular object of the ini vention is to provide improved electrodes for apparatus of the kind described. v,

r Many other objects and advantages of the `construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described,

and -inore particularly pointed -out in the claims. X

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a section taken through a building wherein apparatus embodying the i11- vention is installed;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my improved heating unit;

Fig. 3 is a plan elevation of the improved heating unit shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sideelevation of my improved electrodes;

Fig. -6 is an end elevation of the improved electrodes;

Fig. 7 is a-plan view of the improved electrodes; .and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section taken on line Referring for the present to Fig. 1 wherein I have shown apparatus embodying one form of the invention installed in a building, the reference character 10 designates generally my improved 'heating unit wherein water is heated by means comprising electrodes hereinafter described. The water V heated in the heating'unit 10 passes thereunit 10.

from through a pipe 11 which communicates with branch pipes 13 in the upper part of the building. Depending from the branch pipes 13 are a plurality of pipes 15 which communicate with radiators. 16 through valve fittings 17. The heated liquid passes fromthe radiators 1,6 by way of pipes 19 which discharge int'o branch return pipes 20 connected to a main return pipe 21 arranged to discharge into the lower part of the heat- In addition to the above described apparatus for heating the building, I have Yprovided a hot water supply tank at 22 to which hot water is supplied through a pipe 23 communicating with a coil disposed in the heating u nit 10 and hereinafter described. The-lower end. of the hot Water supply tank 22 communicates 'with the coil through a pipe 24.l Leading from the upper end of the tank 22 is apipe 26 through which water may be vdelivered to any desired number of faucets (not shown), or the equivalent, and projecting into lthe tank 22 is a pipe 27 through which water is delivered to the tank from a water main or the equivalent.

' Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, it will be noted that my improved heating unit 10 comprises a substantially cylindrlcal shell 3() which is provided with an upper cover plate 32 and has its lower` end closed by a plate 33. The plate 32 is preferably secured to an angle iron 34 by means of bolts 36, or the equivalent, the angle iron being preferably welded to the shell 30. The plate 33 is preferably welded to the inner surface of the shell 30, as bestshown in Fig. 4. The

outer' surface of the shell 30 is preferably covered by a vlayer 31 of heat insulating material such as asbestos or the equivalent. Al

similar layer 31a is provided upon the cover plate 32. Any suitable means maybe provided for supporting the shell 30 and the apparatus contained therein, but I prefer to provide a fabricated base 33a having' legs 33". v v

Mounted upon the covervplate 32 are a plurality of binding posts or electrical terminal devices 37 and 38, which are electrically connected to electrodes 39 and 40, respectively, disposed within the shell 30. The

eovv

electrical terminal devices 37 and 38 are substantially identical in construction and for this reason it will only be necessary to 'ex- .plain the details of one of them. Thus, in

preferably packed with asbestos rings 45,

or the equivalent. Disposed around the upper end of the sleeve 42 is a collar 47 and disposed around the lower end of the sleeve is a second collar 48, the collars 47 and 48 being formed of any suitable electrical insulation. It will be noted that the lower end of the collar '47 and the upper end of the collar 48 engages the asbestos rings 45. Seated upon the upper end of the collar 47 is an asbestosring and engaging the lower endy of the collar 48 is an asbestos ring 51. Engaging the upper surface of the asbestos ring 50 is a metallicl washer 54 and screw-threaded upon the upper end of the rod 41 are a plurality of metallic nuts 55. This construction permits an electrical conductor to be readily secured to the upper end of the rod 41. A metallic washer 57 disposed upon the lower end of the rod 41 cooperates with nuts 58 screw-threaded upon the rod to clamp the electrode 39 to the rod. p

As bestshown in Figs. 5 and 6, the electrodes 39 and 40 are substantially identical vin constructionY and each is substantially U-shaped i-n form, the electrodes being provided with apertures 60 to permit them to be coupled tothe electrical terminal devices 37 and 38. The electrodes are formed of sheet metal in this embodiment of the invention.

It will be noted that the electrodes 39 and 40 are widest intermediate their ends Vand that they taper down to a relatively small size at`their lower ends. Irpreferably employ this construction as it facilitates the iiow of a relatively large electrical current when the shell 30 is substantially filled with lwater and lit enables the unit to operate satisfactorily-on a relatively small current when the level of the-water in the shell is lowered by vapor pressure as hereinafter explained. The lower ends of the electrodes are provided with aligned apertures 61 Ato hold a porcelain or glass rod 62, or the equivalent, porcelain or glass insulators 64 being mounted upon the rod 62 to accurately space" the ends 'of the electrodes. Longi tudinaldisplacement ofthe glass rod 62 is` prevented by means of wires 65 twisted around the ends of the rod." -v y Welded to theunder side of the cover plate 32 is anannular channel shaped mem- The sleeve 42 extends' end ofthe pipe fitting 68 is substantially oval in shape to conform to the dimensions of -the channell shaped member 67. The aforementioned pipe 11 is secured in -any suitable manner to the pipe fitting'68 and depending from the channel shaped memberA 67 are a plurality of pipes 70 which preferably extend below the lower ends of the electrodes 39 and 40. It is readily understoodl that liquid may pass from the interi'or of the shell 30 up through the pipes 70 and thence into the channel shaped member 67 to be discharged through the pipe fitting 68. Y i

Surrounding the pipes 70 is a coil 72, the lower end of which extends through the bottom plate 33 and is screw-threaded for connection to the aforementioned pipe 24. The upper end of the coil 7 2v preferablv extends through the cover plate 32 and is screwthreaded for connection to the aforementioned pipe 23.` The aforementioned return pipe 21 preferably communicates with the interior of the shell 30 through a tubular vpipey 11 through a pipe 78. l preferably provide a water gauge 80 which is operatively connected to the shell 30 b v pipe couplings 81 welded'to the shell. Water may be supplied to the system through a pipe 79l connected to a water main (not shown) or the equivalent. In this instance, the pipe 79 communicates directly with the heating unit 10 Ibut in other instances l may have it'discharge into the return pipe 21.

The operation of the above described apparatus is substantially as follows: Assuming that there is a sufficient supply of water in the system and that the apparatus has not been in operation for some time, the shell 30 will rapidly cause a portion of the water to vaporize. It is/ understood, of course, that a relatively large current will pass through the waterwhen the electrodes 39 and 40 are `entirely immersed therein. The pressure produced within the shell 30 will cause water to surge out of the shell by way of the pipe 76 which delivers itA` to .the tank 77. 0f course, the water may also pass up through the pipes 70 into the annular member 67 and thence through the pipe 11 to the radiators which are at a lower elevation than the tank rent will flow between the electrodes 39- and 40. During the operation of the heating unit some point of equilibrium will be reached whereat the water within the shell will assume a substantially stationary level and the current passing between the electrodes will be of a substantially constant value. This condition will then obtain until waterl is withdrawn from the tank 22 through the pipe 26 or some other1 change occurs in the system.

It is readily understood that when the -apparatus is functioning, a thermo-Siphon action takes place which causes water to low up through the tubes or pipes 70 `into the pipe 11 by way of the ychamber in the annular member 67. This water is distribis heated by the vapor produced in the shell 30 by the electrodes 39 and 4:0, there being I an exchange of heat through the walls of the pipes 70.

It is also readily understood that when the water within the shell 30 is heated in the manner set forth above, the water contained in the coil 72 is also heated and a thermo- Siphon action takesA place to deliver the heated water to the hot water supply tank 22 by way of the pipe 23, cold water from the supply tank being delivered to the lower n endvof the coil 72 by way of the pipe '24.'

In Fig. 1 I havel diagrammatically illustrated conductors 85 and 86 connected to the electrodes 39 and 40, respectively, and to the terminals of a double pole switch 87 which is connected by conductors 89 and 90 to mains 91 and 92, the mains 91 and 92 being connected to any suitable source of electrical energy not shown. Obviously, when the switch 87 is closed, current will flow between the electrodes 39 and 40 if they project into the water.

I have illustrated a thermostat 95 of any l suitable construction which may be ,positioned in any desirable room of the building and may be of any suitable construction, the arrangement being 'such that when the temperature within the room rises above a predetermined value, the thermostat func-l tions to close a valve 97 provided in the pipe v 11. This prevents the water heated within the shell 30 from passing up through the pipe 11 to the several radiators 16, and-as the heated water is retained within the shell, the pressure therein will rise and cause the level vof the water in the shell to fall. A

smaller current willthen flow betweenl the` electrodes 39 and 40 and less heat `avill be i generated within the heating unit.' If the room temperature falls below the predetermined value, the thermostat 95 functions tol f ply tank 22, and the level of the water witha in the shell will rise to permit a larger current to How between the electrodes.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned. Y

What I claim as newr and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1k. A heating unit comprising a receptacle for holding a quantity of water, a plurality of electrodes positioned to project into the Water, tubular means positioned to project into the water, said tubular means communicating with the interior of the receptacle, means communicating with said tubular means for vsupplying heated water by means of fluid pressure created within said receptacle to heating apparatus disposed outside of the receptacle, means for returning the water to the receptacle, and means for connecting the receptacle to an expansion tank.

2. A heating unit comprising a receptacle for holding a quantity of water, a plurality of electrodes mountedon the receptacle to project down into the'water, a chamber vin the upper end ofl the receptacle, means whereby the chambercommunicates with the lower part of the receptacle., said chamber having a discharge outlet and said receptacle having an inlet openin whereby water discharged from said disc arge outlet may return to the receptacle, and means for connecting the receptacle with an expansion tank. Y 1

3. electrically operated heating device comprising a receptacle for holding water, a

lower part of said receptacle, means for operatively connecting said tubes to heating apparatus, means for connecting the receptacle to a return p i e, and means for connectingthe receptac e to an expansion'tank.

4. In apparatus of the kind described and in combination, a receptacle for holding water, electrodes projecting intov the receptacle, heating apparatus spaced fromrthe re' \ceptacle, means for operatively connecting 4-,the receptacle to the heating apparatus,

5 means for returning Water from the heating apparatus to the receptacle, an expansion tank connected to the receptacle, and automatic means for controlling the low of liquid from the receptacle to the heating apparatus by varying the pressurev Within the receptacle. A v

5. In apparatus of thevkind described and in -combination, a receptacle for holding Water, electrodes projecting into the receptacle, heating apparatus spaced from the re),-

connected to the receptacle, and means including va thermostat for controlling the flow of liquidi-rom the receptacle tothe heating apparatusby varying the pressure Wthin` the receptacle. f I

6; In apparatus of the kind described and in combination, a receptacle for' holding Water, electrodes projecting into the receptacle, heating vapparatus spaced from the receptacle, means for operatively connecting the receptacle to the heating apparatus, means for returning Water from the heating apparatus tothe receptacle, an expansion tank connected to the receptacle, and means including a thermostat for controlling the' temperature of the liquid in saidv heating apparatus by permitting a variation of fluid pressure Within said receptacle and a consequent variation in the effective area of the electrodes.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto.

signedmy name.

RICHMOND ROCHESTER, JR. 

